no expense is being spared for tonight's academy awards. This year the production is being billed as bigger and more show-stopping than ever. And in addition to all that suspense about who will win, there's the wild card with seth macfarlane hosting for the very first time. Brandi hit is on the carpet where the stars are already coming out. Paul a the word for tonight is wow. That's what the producers are promising for each of the 13 performances planned for this evening, most in any oscar show ever. The oscars will even end differently, not after the best picture is announced, but with a big musical finale. &#9834; Reporter: A decade after chicago's best picture wins, catherine zeta, queen latifah renee zellweger, and richard gere will be reuniting on stage. Bond, james bond. Reporter: James bond will be honored for 50 years of thrill. &#9834; adele singing her nominated hit "skyfall." Even barbara streisand will perform at the oscars for the first time in 36 years. &#9834; love that is shared by two &#9834; Reporter: As usual, the toughest job of the night goes to the host. It is sink first-timer seth macfarlane. The funny man says he's been working on his material for five months. He even asked last year's host, billy crystal, who's done it nine times in all for advice. Macfarlane says crystal told him to wear comfortable shoes. Whatever shoes he does wear, they'll be big ones to fill.

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